David Raksin

Originally published in the Britannica Book of the Year.Presented as archival content.

Last Updated:

3-28-2016

David Raksin, (born Aug. 4, 1912, Philadelphia, Pa.—died Aug. 9, 2004, Los Angeles, Calif.) American film composer who , created the music for some 400 motion pictures and television series, the most notable of which was the haunting score for the film Laura (1944), which subsequently was recorded more than 400 times. Other scores included those for the films Forever Amber (1947), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and Separate Tables (1958), and themes for TV series included Wagon Train (1957) and Ben Casey (1961). Raksin also wrote concert works and music for ballets and stage shows, served as president of the ... (100 of 118 words)